rblog

The DNA detectives : how the double helix is solving puzzles of the past
Author: Anna Meyer
Amazon info

A fun book, written with enthusiasm, and a great introduction to the science of DNA and some very practical applications. It is really the applications that are the core of the book. Chapters include whether the Neanderthals were our ancestors, whether Anna Anderson was really Anastasia, and whether dinosaurs could be cloned. The science isn't overwhelmingly deep and the stories keep the book interesting and accessible to high schoolers.

The downside to the book is that it reads like it was written by a student - and, well, it was - Anna Meyer is a graduate student. Most of the information on the applications is from secondary sources, and at times the writing appears superficial in that only one viewpoint is provided.

However, a worthwhile and quick read.

Recommended to young readers interested in a vital area of science.